Blending indie with down-and-dirty guitar riffs and electric drudgery for the last six years, FUTURE FOR THE LEFT have built a respectable fan base since the split of Cardiff heroes Mclusky and Jarcrew. With the release of ‘Polymers are Forever’ the outfit may confuse their followers by moving further away from the heavier guitar led sounds that were prominent on their previous releases, choosing to experiment with overt electronic sounds on the majority of the six tracks being showcased on the EP.
Bookended by two of the best songs FUTURE OF THE LEFT may have ever composed, the middle of the record feels confused, making for a weary listen. The opening title track launches the record like a violent punch to the face, only for the structure of the following track to fall apart, leading the listener into a tangle of simple electronics which fail to build upon the foundations of the track. Album closer ‘destroywhitchurch.com’ completes the record with the most harrowing atmosphere possible using Andy Falkous’ deliciously dark vocals. With the ability of the band members shining through on the opening and closing tracks, it only serves to compounds disappointment in the middle section’s failure to deliver.
The impact of a major change to the line-up since 2009s ‘Travels With Myself and Others’ is abundantly clear on ‘Polymers are Forever’, with the band experimenting with new sounds and techniques throughout the EP. Where the reasonably new direction works, the outcome is exceptional, but unfortunately for FUTURE OF THE LEFT, the majority of the EP loses itself in a forest of confusion and utter bewilderment. If nothing else, ‘Polymers are Forever’ is an interesting preamble to 2012s scheduled full-length ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’.
BEN TIPPLE